Very Interesting African Sword
 

I picked this up today is it Yaka tribe?

A fine sword - I would guess with the curved blade and that type of pommel, its Baule (Ivory Coast).

Regards

Nice!

Thanks for the ID! Would you consider this a rarer than usual piece have not seen many Baule swords or daggers around?

Lew

Well you do not see these as often as other African blades.

Very nice Lew, congrats :)

Regards David

YES! this is a very beauty! it needs only a good cleaning! congratulations dear friend ;)

Flavio

There are a few tacks missing which I can replace the question is should I restore it or just leave it be?


Lew

Lew,

I think it's better you leave as it is, it's a very nice sword and quite rare and some tacks missing aren't a big problem for the general beauty of this piece. Instead I was thinking about the blade, from pics seems a little rusty, just a little :)

Congratulation, this is very nice sword (Baule). The sheath is, unfortunately, later addition but never mind, this soword is rare.

Regards,

Martin

Its an absolute beauty Lew.
Are the studs reused 19thC brass dome headed upholstry nails? If so then you could replace the missing ones with genuine contempory ones fairly easily I'd have thought?

Its a fantastic weapon, congrats.
Gene

Hi Gene

The sword arrived today and it is real nice. Yes the tacks are 19th century 3/8"upholstry tacks I have already found a supplier that sells French finish brass tacks. See below. Btw the scabbard seems to be quite old the blade looks like a slightly reworked European machete? So it could be the original scabbard?

Lew

Appears to be a forged, centrally-ridged blade to me. Nice :)